Projects in Jamaica

Immaculate Conception Convent

While in Jamaica, the group stayed at a convent where they learned about the work done by Jamaican nuns and attended a Caribbean Youth Summit meeting which addressed problems faced by Jamaican youth.

Glen V. Bromfield Children's Residence

The students visited a government-funded orphanage to learn about the orphanage system and conditions in Jamaican orphanages. They witnessed the poor conditions of the orphanage due to lack of funding and staff.

St. Monica's Extended Care Facility

A government-funded extended care facility for the elderly was also visited. Here students interacted with Jamaican elderly, learned about government support of the elderly population in Jamaica and learned about the lack of proper facilities for young people living with HIV/AIDS.

Mel Nathan Basic School

The YPJ group also visited an inner-city school which was supported by the United Church. Here, the group set up a pen pal program between grade 2 and 3 students in Jamaica and students in Salem Elementary in Sackville. The YPJ group learned about the economic difficulties faced by families living in urban Jamaica and the importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty.

Blue Mountains

Aside from visiting institutions, the YPJ group also learned about Jamaica through less formal means. The group spent time in the Blue Mountains where they interacted with Rastafarians, learned about the differences between rural and urban Jamaica and went on a hike with Jamaican university students.

Bustamante Children's Hospital

The YPJ group also visited a government-funded children's hospital where they learned about the health care system in Jamaica. The facility was well equipped but was not up to capacity because of lack of funding. Free medical care is limited; although small public hospitals are located in each parish, comprehensive emergency medical services are available only in Kingston and Montego Bay. Fees for health care are paid for by health insurance companies or by patients themselves.

Bull Bay

Another source of information about "real" Jamaica was the time spent at Jamnesia Surf Camp in Bull Bay. The surf camp was run by a Rastafarian family who had among them a nationally ranked surfer, a musician, an actor, a social worker, a university student and some Jamaican youth. Students learned about the history and ideology of the Rastafarian faith, the history of corruption within the Jamaican government, and the social structures in place for disadvantaged people.